The peak value of the output for a given M/S file cannot be calculated without first applying the decoder and then measuring the output, but the problem with that approach is that, for Nyquist plug-ins, the measuring can only be done in RAM, so for long recordings the memory usage could be greater than the amount of physical RAM available in the computer, which would then cause Audacity to freeze or crash.
I think that in most cases where a mono track was wanted, it would be better to simply split the M/S track (click on the track name then select “Split to Mono”) and then delete the “Side” track (click on the in the top left corner of the track).
I’ve been thinking that it may be better to have a separate Mid-Side decoder plug-in rather than just tagging it onto the Channel Mixer.
Which do you prefer for decoding M/S, the channel mixer or this one? (below)
Do you think that it needs the option for selecting whether the Middle channel is the “left” or “right” track channel? I’ve not seen a lot of M/S encoded files, but those I have seen have either been as two single channel files, or as a single channel Middle and a 2 channel Side file, or as a 2 channel file with Mid in the first (left) channel (like your files). I don’t recall ever seeing a M/S 2 channel file with Mid in the second (“right”) channel.
MidSide.ny (2.94 KB)